The Human Services Board of Wabasha County, Minnesota, convened in Regular Session at the Courthouse Annex, in the City of Wabasha, Minnesota at 9:30 a.m., December 27, 2011 in accordance with MS 402.01 to 402.10. The previous meeting was recessed to this time and place.

The following Board members were present: Hall, Harms, Norman, Roschen, and Wobbe.

Absent: None

HARMS – ROSCHEN

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Wabasha County Human Services Board hereby approves the agenda with no additions.

Adopted Unanimously.

ROSCHEN – NORMAN

WHEREAS, the Minutes of the November 22, 2011 meeting have been presented for review and that no changes have been made to the Minutes;

BE IT RESOLVED, the Human Services Board accepts the Minutes as an accurate reflection of the content and actions taken at its previous meetings.

Adopted Unanimously

ROSCHEN – NORMAN

WHEREAS, the Director of Social Services has advised that all Income Maintenance case actions are in conformance with State, Federal, and County laws, rule, regulations and policies;

BE IT RESOLVED, that all Income Maintenance case openings, closings, suspensions, grant changes and any other action affecting client eligibility and payments documented in the Department on listing of proposed case actions, (through MAXIS computerized client files and reports, and MMIS II), Director's Actions, abstracts of payment, and reports of refunds and cancellations for the period 11/22/11 through 12/26/11 are hereby approved.

WHEREAS, the Directors of Public Health and Social Services have advised that all Public Health and Social Services case actions are in conformance with State, Federal and County laws rules, regulations and policies;

BE IT RESOLVED, that all Public Health and Social Services case openings, closings, payments, placements and licensing actions as documented in the Department on Agency listing for Licensing actions, case records, record of Social Service plan, purchase of service abstracts, reports of refunds and cancellations, payment authorizations and computer printouts for 11/22/11 through 12/26/11are hereby approved.

WHEREAS, the Directors of Public Health and Social Services have advised that all personnel actions are in conformance with State and Federal law, Merit System rules, existing labor agreements and personnel policies;

BE IT RESOLVED, that all personnel actions for 11/22/11 through 12/26/11for employees of the Departments of Public Health and Social Services as documented in the Department on proposed personnel actions listing, personnel abstracts, payroll reports and personnel actions forms are hereby approved.

WHEREAS, the Directors of Public Health and Social Services have advised that all Public Health claims and, Social Services and Welfare claims against the County submitted for payment for 11/22/11 through 12/26/11have been reviewed and are eligible for payment pursuant to all applicable rules, regulations, laws and policies;

BE IT RESOLVED, that all bills as listed on listing of warrants and claims against the Public Health, Social Services and Welfare funds and warrant registers shall be approved as valid claims against the County and are hereby approved for payment.

WHEREAS, the Directors of Public Health and Social Services have advised that employee requests to attend conferences and/or training have met approval of Administration, and are within the budgetary guidelines of the Agency;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that all requests presented by the Directors of Public Health and Social Services are hereby approved.

Adopted Unanimously.

ROSCHEN – HARMS

Whereas, the Wabasha County Human Services Board has maintained an agreement for the provision of mental health and chemical dependency services with Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC) for many years and wishes to continue this contractual relationship; and

Whereas, the County is required to provide services as required through Minnesota Statutes, Sections 245.461 to 245.486 and 245.487 to 245.4887; and

Whereas, HVMHC is an approved provider under Minnesota Rules, Parts 9520.0750 to 9520.0870 to provide mental health and chemical dependency services; and

Whereas, the County, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Sections 373.01, 373.02, 245.465 and 256M.60, wishes to purchase program services through this provider; and

Whereas, the Director of Social Services recommends approval of this agreement; and

Whereas, the unit rates for services by the HVMHC reflect a 0% increase for calendar year 2012;

Now, therefore be it resolved the Wabasha County Human Services Board approves the mental health and chemical dependency services agreement with Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center at a maximum cost of $125,500. This agreement will end December 31, 2012.

Adopted Unanimously.

WOBBE – ROSCHEN

Whereas, the Wabasha County Social Services and Public Health Services staff has provided input to the 2012 budget committee regarding expenses and revenues for the Department of Social Services; and

Whereas, the Directors of Public Health and Social Services recommend acceptance of the recommended budget for 2012;

Now, therefore be it resolved the Wabasha County Human Services Board approves the 2012 budget for the Department of Social Services with anticipated expenditures and revenues of $4,761,151. The total levy request to support this budget is $1,402,427. The Public Health Services anticipates expenditures and revenues in the amount of $1,435,208. A total tax levy to support this budget is $277,288. Approval of these budgets will subsequently be forwarded to the County Board for consideration in County budget.

Approved Unanimously

NORMAN – HARMS

Whereas, the Wabasha County Public Health Services Department is a Medicare Certified Home Health Agency; and

Whereas, the Public Health department wishes to be a contracted provider with Wabasha County for waivered service; and

Whereas, Wabasha County Public Health has been a provider of waivered services for the past 20 plus years;

Now therefore be it resolved by the Wabasha County Human Services Board that Wabasha County sign a contract with Wabasha County Public Health to provide waivered services within Wabasha County.

Adopted Unanimously.

ROSCHEN – WOBBE

Whereas, the Social Services Department has established a Policy & Procedure Manual to help employees maintain consistency in the application of departmental policy; and

Whereas, the Policy & Procedure Manual also helps clients better understand the rationale for the development of any specific policy and gives Statutory citations for the required policy; and

Whereas, Social Services staff have identified 3 policies that are in need of updating ; and

Whereas, the Director Social Services recommends approval of the suggested updates;

Whereas, the Wabasha County Department of Social Services has a current vacancy for the position of Financial/Eligibility Worker, and

Whereas, Director Smith and Supervisor McNally have shared information with the Human Services Board on why this position should be considered essential during the current economic times and therefore be considered to be filled; and

Whereas, the hiring of a new Financial/Eligibility Worker will have a fiscal impact of saving the County approximately $13,700 during calendar year 2012 (when compared to the previous employee's salary); and

Whereas, the delivery of timely and quality-level service is important to the residents of Wabasha County and the Human Services Board;

Now therefore be it resolved, the Wabasha County Board of Human Services hereby authorizes the Social Services Director to take all necessary steps to fill the current Financial/Eligibility Worker vacancy with a part-time employee, thereby not incurring a county expense for insurance benefits to the employer.

Ayes: Wobbe, Roschen, Hall & Harms

Nays: Norman

ROSCHEN – NORMAN

Whereas, the Wabasha County Department of Social Services has participated in hiring a regional contract manager since 2009, and

Whereas, the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) includes the following participating counties; Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona counties; and

Whereas, the anticipated fiscal impact for Wabasha County to continue participation in this MOU is anticipated to increase by $52 to a total of $5,099; and

Whereas, the delivery of services and consistency of contract management for waivered services has proven value to the participating counties; and

Whereas, the Director of Social Services recommends continued participation in this regional MOU for contract management services;

Now therefore be it resolved, the Wabasha County Board of Human Services hereby authorizes the Social Services Director to execute the necessary Memorandum of Understanding to continue participation in the region contract manager position. Cost to Wabasha County will be $5,099 for calendar year 2012.

Adopted Unanimously.

DISCUSSION & INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

Environmental Health Services Report

Darrin Thompson indicated that the septic installation season is now ending. The warm weather has allowed additional work to be completed beyond the typical construction season in Minnesota. During the upcoming months Darrin will be working on planning documents. Also, he is working with the Theilman Opera House contractors to insure the septic system passes all necessary deed requirements.

Susie West reported the re-opening of the Anderson House, and a change in ownership of 2 restaurants in Wabasha; Slippery's and Loco Gringos. Public Health Services received a positive response to having radon kits available this past year and is now preparing to make additional radon testing kits available to the public. In the past couple weeks there have been 3 calls to PHS regarding lead paint issues.

PHS Grant Updates

• Judy reported that St. Elizabeth's did receive their grant to do a Home Care Study with an outside consultant leading the study as well as developing some recommendations for the provision of Home Care in Wabasha County. Judy was invited to be on the interview Board and interviews with consultants are being set up at this time. The grant money will be available the first of Feb., 2012.

• The regional SHIP grant application was approved but not funded. What this means is that currently there was not enough funding available at the state level to fund this grant application, however, if more funding were to become available the region would not have to write another grant but would be funded with the current grant application.

• Judy reviewed that Public Health held their first Towards Zero Death (TZD) coalition meeting, which was attended by Commissioner Harms and Wobbe. Work on this grant is targeted towards education around targeted law enforcement activities for seat belts, car seats, speed, and alcohol usage while driving.

• Judy also discussed the Public Health preparedness grant which was previously called the Bioterrorism grant. States they have received a great deal of training and have written plans and done drills for Public Health Emergencies. Stated Public Health Nurses are trainers for N95 mask fit testing and have assisted other departments with meeting their requirements for this activity. Also talked about the Public Health department's involvement in the 2010 fall flood and how this grant helped prepare the department to respond to this event. In addition there have been plans developed for mass immunization clinics, transportation plans to regional immunization centers, and plans developed in collaboration with St. Elizabeth Hospital and Lake City Medical Center to run "flu clinics" for triage in the event of an epidemic flu outbreak.

South Country Health Alliance (SCHA) – Case management

Judy discussed the increase in the number of South Country Health Alliance Ability Care members the county will be seeing due to legislation that mandates all people with disabilities now must enroll in a managed care plan. This will add a potential of 180 new clients for Public Health to Case Manage by March 1, 2012. Judy states that at this time they are going to try to handle this large increase of work load with current staff, however, she expressed that Social Services has volunteered to assist if Public Health cannot cover this large increase in case management clientele. Judy will keep the Board updated on this matter.

The Department of Human Services has announced SCHA as the 2011 recipient of theCommissioner's Circle of Excellence Award. The award will be presented in St. Paul on January 20th, with invites to be issued soon.

Southeast Minnesota Human Services Redesign Update

Smith provided a handout to Board members detailing the level of information that is being collected from the 12 participating counties in the redesign project. Three counties (Olmsted, Rice and Waseca) are already having direct contact with Accenture staff and testing the collection document to make sure it will be reasonable for all 12 counties. Questions are being asked regarding the number of clients served in a year and the processes used in each county. This will take significant work from each county to gather the data. Wabasha County is currently scheduled to have Accenture staff on-site during the first week of February.

2012 Meeting Dates

Smith shared a handout with Board members on the meeting dates for 2012. With one exception, all meetings will take place on the 4th Tuesday of each month, starting at 9:30 AM. The exception will be in December, when the meeting will be on Wednesday, December 26th, due to the closing of the office for the holiday.

PHS/SS Miscellaneous

The Department of Human Services recently notified counties the State will not be mailing out tax notices to clients who have received benefits during 2011. The decision was made as part of budgetary reductions. Wabasha County will not automatically send out these notices, but will look at a few options on how to notify clients on a process to receive this information.

Gift Donations

Judy wished to acknowledge the following organizations which donated Christmas gifts for needy families through the Public Health office. They were Lake City Medical Center, 2 4-H Clubs, Home Instead Home Care, and Faith Lutheran Church. She also wished to acknowledge United Way's Dolly Parton Literacy program that is offered in Wabasha County. She states she and staff hear many appreciative comments about the program.

HARMS – NORMAN

Being no further business to come before the Board, motion was made and duly carried at 11:11 p.m. to recess this meeting until 9:30 a.m. on January 24, 2012.